Nairobi — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Ethiopian authorities to take all necessary steps to locate and secure the release of Addis Standard managing editor Million Beyene, who was abducted from his newsroom in Addis Ababa on Wednesday morning by unidentified men.
According to a statement from the outlet’s publisher, Jakenn Publishing PLC, the men—dressed in plainclothes, some wearing caps and face masks—told Million he was “needed for questioning” before taking him to an undisclosed location.
“Million Beyene’s disappearance from the Addis Standard’s newsroom marks a disturbing new chapter in the troubles faced by this respected digital outlet after authorities revoked its registration certificate in February,” said Muthoki Mumo, CPJ Africa Program Coordinator. “Ethiopian authorities must immediately establish who took Million Beyene away, ensure his release, and hold those responsible to account.”
Addis Standard has faced repeated state pressure, including a 2025 newsroom raid and a 2021 ban. Screenshots of April 15 security camera footage published by the outlet showed at least three men moving deliberately through a stairwell, described as “organized, with one leading ahead while others follow closely behind.”
Jakenn’s leadership and legal team have been unable to locate Million. Four different police departments and stations confirmed he was not in their custody. Surveillance unit officers within both the Addis Ababa Police and Federal Police Commission said they did not recognize the individuals as members of their forces.
Million’s disappearance comes amid escalating pressure on media outlets in Ethiopia ahead of elections on June 1. In February, an Agence France-Presse journalist was blocked from traveling to the northern Tigray region. The Ethiopian Media Authority revoked the accreditation of Reuters journalists following an investigation and suspended the operating license of online outlet Wazema Radio for reporting deemed contrary to the “national interest.”
In October, the authority suspended the licenses of all nine Deutsche Welle (DW) correspondents in Ethiopia, accusing the outlet of unspecified violations of media and hate speech laws. Seven journalists have since been allowed to return to work, but suspensions remain in place for the two correspondents covering the Tigray and Amhara regions.
When contacted by CPJ, federal police spokesman Jeylan Abdi said via WhatsApp that Million’s family had confirmed he was not being detained by federal police. He referred further questions to the Addis Ababa police. On April 16, Addis Ababa police spokesperson Markos Tadesse directed CPJ to contact the city force’s head of public relations, Thomas Eshete, who said he had no information on the case.
